Teen’s first sip of alcohol most likely to be in December

This holiday season, the DFC encourages parents to keep a watchful eye on their alcohol present at parties. Take the pledge this year to not provide youth and minors with alcohol!

Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration show that 12- to 17-year-olds are more likely to take their first sip of alcohol in December than in any other month except July.

In December, an average of 11,400 teens try alcohol for the first time each day of the month, which works out to about 353,000 new drinkers by months’ end. By contrast, in February the daily number of new teenage drinkers is less than half of that.